On 24 April 2020, the ICJ, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) made a joint supplementary submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on Thailand’s implementation of its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

In their submission, the ICJ, TLHR and CrCF detailed their concerns in relation to Thailand’s failure to implement the Committee’s recommendations, including the ongoing human rights shortcomings of the country’s Constitutional and legal framework; the continued lack of domestic legislation criminalizing torture, other ill-treatment and enforced disappearance; and reports of torture and other ill-treatment. In addition, the three human rights organizations expressed concern over the use of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, and measures imposed under the Decree that may constitute a blanket restriction on fundamental freedoms, including the rights to free expression, opinion, information, privacy and freedom of assembly and association, with no opportunity for the courts to review these extraordinary measures.

The organizations’ submission also describes human rights concerns with respect to the following:

Constitution and legal framework

Head of the NCPO Order No. 22/2561; and

Head of the NCPO Order No. 9/2562

Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture

continued lack of domestic legislation criminalizing torture, other ill-treatment and enforced disappearance;

reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, and the progress and results of investigations;

the application of security-related laws; and

threats and reprisals against persons working to bring to light cases of alleged torture, ill–treatment and enforced disappearance.